Persistent authentication in dynamic automation visualization content delivery

A system comprising:

• a plurality of industrial automation visualization sources that, in operation, perform monitoring and/or control operations on a controlled machine or process;
• a mobile thin client HMI;
• a visualization manager that, in operation, communicates with the thin client HMI to permit the thin client HMI to access and display visualizations from one or more of the industrial automation visualization sources of the controlled machine or process, wherein the visualization manager is configured to provide initial user access to at least one of the visualizations based initially upon a multi-factor authentication process and thereafter permits subsequent access to one or more of the visualizations based upon a single-factor authentication process, and wherein the access is based upon policies stored on the visualization manager;
• and
• a factory communication system that, in operation, receives initial user authentication data and provides a persistent authorization of the user on the visualization manager.